Introducing: ROSEBUD

"A deep, faced hem brings a polished finish and extra warmth to the Rosebud Hat."

It certainly is about time that I introduce my latest design... Rosebud... one of 34 designs in Interweave knits, Gifts 2014.

"The 2014 holiday issue offers the usual collection of delightful quick knits and artful accessories. His and hers hat variations, a children’s tea party, holiday decor, and loads of accessories—shawls, socks, hats, mitts, cowls, and more—fill out the patterns, while technique articles focus on unusual colorwork methods. Get in the giving mood with these 34 exciting projects."

This magazine is available digitally at the link above.  The official release date is September 2, when it will be on newsstands everywhere.

I was delighted to receive my complimentary copy in the mail on Wednesday.

Though I have yet to make it onto the cover of anything... I am happy to have my project on one of the two contents pages.

 And then there is that spread on pages 65-66.

I was tickled pink that Interweave chose to photograph the inside of the hat.

This project is basically a "stranded colorwork" project.  The reverse side is partially cover by the hem facing, but you can see all the little "floats" where the yarn that is not being used is carried along behind the work.

For basic instructions on stranded colorwork, please check out my very popular post from last year, "Two-Handed Stranded Colorwork Tutorial".  One thing that I did not think to include at the time that I wrote the tutorial was a photo of the reverse side.  From time to time, I have thought, "that might have been helpful," and now you can see it in print!

I hope that if you purchase the magazine, you enjoy making many of the projects.  If you have a moment, please see Rosebud Hat on Ravelry and while there, favorite it just for me ♥♥♥♥♥♥  Thanks for reading!

Around and About

Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

Barnes & Noble

It's out there now.

Tartan Mitts

© Interweave Knits/Harper Point

"A bright pop of red brings Scottish chic to any wardrobe. The Tartan Mitts feature an off-center two-color plaid in identical right and left mates."

I love that "bright pop of red" thing.  I do not know who wrote that bit about my new design in a print magazine, but I do love it.

It certainly is about time that I announce my latest design... Tartan Mitts.

© Interweave Knits/Harper Point

The mitts are featured on page 113 of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2013, and the pattern appears on pages 120 & 122.

© Interweave Knits/Harper Point

This magazine is available digitally at the link above.  It is currently showing up at select LYS's, and within a week should be on newsstands everywhere.

As this is only my third time to be published in print, I am very happy and very proud!

Destiny

For two years, I subscribed to the biannual Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine.  I received issues Number 47, 48, 49 & 50.

I do not know why, but there are at least a few magazines that come out of Great Britain that include a small gift with each issue.  Mollie Makes, which I subscribed to over the last year is one of them.  I wrote about one of their gifts last April, in a post named "Not Knitting Needles".  Other gifts were small very sharp scissors, a wooden handled crochet hook, buttons, ribbon trim and a couple more little kits for items like a cloth luggage tag.

Rowan sends their subscribers one gift each year.  My first gift was a kit to make a scarf.  It came with a very generous six skeins of Rowan Pure Wool 4-ply (which I had knit with before and liked quite a lot) in a great color called Eau de Nil.  There were patterns included for two scarf possibilities:  "Unisex Scarf", a thick heavy cabled piece worked with the yarn held double, and "Lace Scarf"  a huge and pretty infinity cowl.  Both designs are by Sarah Hatton.  This is what is left of my kit now.

I did not make a scarf.  I like my scarves smaller and lighter.  I knew immediately that I would like to make a short sleeve sweater... a henley design by Véronik Avery seemed a good choice.  I checked the yardage and put it away for another day. 

My other two gifts from Rowan (good timing, on my part, to get three gifts in two years) were an eco-friendly bag, and then the hard-cover binding on Rowan Number 50.

 

The eco-friendly bag is partly visible on the right.  It looks like burlap with a picture of birds in a tree on it.  On the back it says, "Relax Handknit Create..."  The tag said it was ethically produced in India and is made of jute.  It is a nice sized bag for a knitting project, but has short handles so I mostly have used it at home.  It has a thin plastic lining which makes me wonder, but I don't ask...  It was a gift.  I guess that plastic is a good thing for keeping knitting needles from poking through.

The hard-bound Rowan #50 was at least two gifts in one.  It is opened to some photos of "Betty" by Marie Wallin.  This was my favorite design in the issue.  How is it possible that for my size, the main yarn requirement was six skeins of Rowan Pure Wool 4-ply in Eau de Nil, which thanks to Rowan, was waiting in my stash?

I happily went on an internet hunt for the other colors required (making only one substitution).  At rather a fine gauge, it has taken a while to finish.  I blocked it today and you will see it soon.

It was inevitable that I made Betty.  It was my destiny.  Thanks Rowan.